Switch mounting



April 25, 1933. w KE 1,905,771

SWITCH MOUNTING Filed Nov. 27, 1926 2 I 5 k 58 v INVENTOZ L52 4 L HIS ATTQRNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED Y STATES PATENT OFFICE Y WARREN R. WALKER, F BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO GENERAL ammo VAPOR LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY swrrcrr moun'rme 7 Application filed November 27, 1926. Serial No: 151,214.

The present invention relates to switches of the make and break type and for purposes of illustration I shall describe it hereinafter with a mercury break switch. w

Switches of the movable liquid type when utilized to make and break circuits have been tilted and rotated to cause the mercuryto flow away from and break connection with the fixed electrodes of the switch.

I have discovered that when switches of this type are moved comparatively suddenly, or, if in motion accelerated rapidly, substantially along the line of the longitudmal ax s thereof or along the line of flow of the liquid therein in the making and breaking of the circuit therethrough, the liquid, due to the inertia thereof, is displaced in relation to the switch body and the contacts thereof with the result that contact between the mercury and one or more of the electrodes is broken, in switches in which mercury in its normal position connects two or more of the electrodes. Of course, if the two electrodes were formed at one end of the switch container and the switch were suddenly or at an increased rate moved in a direction therefrom it is obvious that the mercury or other conducting liquid would, due to its inertia, remain comparatively at rest while the swltch body moved with relation thereto, the end in which the electrodes are formed beingbrought against the liquid and contact. made between the liquid and the said electrodes. A quick change to movement in the opposite direction would result in the opposite end of the container being moved against the mercury and the contacts being moved away from the mercury with a consequent opening of the circuit therethrough.- Other forms of switch can be utilized for making other connections or disconnections, combinations thereof, or series thereof according to the respective relations of the conducting liquid, the electrodes, and the form of the containing vessel.

I have further discovered that when a device of the character above described is caused to oscillate in a rectilinear path. that the results sought by such switches are accomplished with greater certainty and particu larly is this the case when it is desired to operate the making and breaking of the switch at high periodicity or rates of making and breaking. In fact, I am able to accomplish with my new make and break switch operating along the horizontal axis of the tube, for example, a speed of make and break in the sign flashing mechanisms of commerce which is unattainable with the-same kind of a switch when it is tilted or rotated.

Various other objects and advantages of l the invention will be obvious from the following particular description of forms of apparatus embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also consists in certain new and useful features of construction and com bmations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

I will describe herein the application of my invention to a switch having electrodes sealed through the bottom thereof, mercury therein and an extension of the containing vessel at one end'and in the direction of the line in which the switch is made to travel in the opoperating a bank of lights which may be a flashing'sign or a section of such a sign,

Fig}. 2 is an elevation view of a mercury switc and Fig. 3 light circuit switching apparatus embodying the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the switch body 1 is mounted by the strap 2 on the cross head 3 which is made to reciprocate in slide 4 by means of connecting rod 5 and the driving wheel 6 which revolves on shaft 7. The electrodes 8, 8 of the switch 1 are connected to the respective ends of an is a diagrammatic illustration of a electric circuit including the source of energy 9 and the load such as the bank of lamps 10.

The mercury 11 in the switch body 1 serves to connect the electrodes 8, 8 in the closedcircuit position of the switch and mercury therein. This switching device is an example of embodiments of my invention in which the inertia-of the mercury in the switch body is utilized to accomplish the rapid make and break of the circuit therethrough through sudden or rapid movement or change of rate of movement of the switch body. In the operation of the switching apparatus above described the shaft 7 is rotated by suitable means not shown whereby the cross head 3 is reciprocated in the slide way 4 at a rate sufficiently rapid to cause the mercury 11 in the switch body 1 to be alternately disconnected from said electrodes 8, 8 and connected therebetween. In this connecting and disconnecting action the inertia of the mercury during the rapid change of speed at the end of each stroke of the cross head 3 in slide way 4 tends to keep said mercury 11 stationary while the switch body 1 is moving whereby one of said electrodes is moved from contact with the mercury which piles u momentarily at the opposite end of the switc body. After each change in direction of movement the mercury flows to connect said electrodes 8, 8 whereby the circuit therethrough is re-established. This very rapid make and break of the circuit is applicable to many devices such for example as border chasers on lamp signs. V

In Fig. 2 dotted lines indicate relative movement of the mercury 11 therein with respect to the switch envelope 1 and the dash lines indicate an extension on the chamber 1 to make the envelope symmetrical with respect to an axis between said electrodes 8, 8 whereby on movement in opposite directions beyond a given point the mercury will have free play for movement to open a circuit therethrough.

For some purposes I use' a jarring mechanism for quickly changing the relative positions of mercury and electrodes for the rapid make and break of circuit through a liquid flow switch. In such a device the mercury switch, for instance, is mounted on a somewhat resilient support and means such as pneumatic, electromagnetic, etc., apparatus used to give the support and switch a rapid or intermittent oscillatory movement or vibration such as is imparted in molding machines for the above described purpose of displacing the mercury of a switch in relation to the contact thereof. Such movement for some purposes, as for making a quick make and return break or vice versa, is made intermittently as by giving the switch support a quick rap at stated periods or at given intervals, the

quick rap serving to move the switch to open.

or close the circuit therethrough and the action of the resilient support serving to close or open the circuit.

In Fig. 3 the spring arm 22 fixedly mount: ed at one end to the table 23 carries the mercury switch 24 at its upper end and in a horizontal position tang'ent to the arc of movement of the end of said spring arm 22. A

-magnet 25 connected in series with switch sequently of the energization of the load 26 and the arm 22 is therefore made and selected with the length and vibration frequency characteristics thereof in view to produce the desired frequency of make and break of the load circuit. In the drawing is illustrated means for varying the vibration frequency of a given spring arm which means comprises a clamp member 30 extending about said arm 22 and adjustable in position along the length thereof by means of the slot 32 in the extension 33 on said clamp member 30 and the screws 35, 35 which extend through said slot 32 and into the block 36. A screw 38 serves to tighten the'clamp 30 on arm 22 when it has been brought to and fixed in a desired position. The load in the circuits of the illustrations herein are shown as lamp banks but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable to any electrical device which is to be alternately energized and de-energized at a predetermined rate or frequency. With the use of the symmetrical switch of Fig. 2 in the apparatus of Fig. 3 as indicated by the dashed lines the inertia of the moving parts away from magnet 25 will overcome the attraction of said magnet during the interval when the switch passes through the closed circuit position, and on the rebound or return vibratory movement from the extreme position away from the magnet 25 the switch again passes through the closed circuit position, this time in time for the said magnet to pull armature 28 and arm 22, switch 24, etc., toward it. In each case a given vibratory or spring arm 22 will have alength most suitable for use for making and breakin at a given frequency. Such a length will one naturally havin the frequency desired or some harmonic t ereof.

I claim:

1. In combination, a mercury switch, and means for periodically moving said switch horizontally and at a speed such that the in ertia of the mercury'will cause it to remain relatively stationary with respect to the envelope and electrodes of the switch.

2. In combination, a mercury switch, and means for periodically moving said switch with a horizontal backward and forward movement at a speed such that the inertia of the mercury will cause it to remain relatively stationary with respect to the envelope and electrodes of the switch.

3. In combination, a mercury switch having an envelope, electrodes and mercury for bridging said electrodes therein, and means for recurrently sliding said envelope and electrodes horizontally from under said mercury at such a rate of speed that the inertia of the mercury will hold it comparatively stationary with respect to said envelope and electrodes to alternately open and close the circuit through said switch at a predetermined frequency.

4. In combination, a mercury switch having an envelope, electrodes and mercury for bridging said electrodes therein, and means for recurrently sliding said envelope and electrodes horizontally from under said mercury at such a rate of speed that the inertia of the mercury will hold it comparatively stationary between certain limits with respect to said envelope and electrodes. I

5. In switch mechanism of the eriodic type, in combination, a resilient vlbratory member having a natural period substantially that desired for the mechanism, the arc of vibratory movement of said member being substantially horizontal, a fluid switch mounted thereon with the line of" fluid flow therein substantially parallel to said arc, and means to vibrate said vibratory member at its natural frequency.

6. In switchmechanism oftheperiodictype, in combination, a resilient vibratory member having a natural period substantially that desired for the mechanism, the arc of vibratory movement of said member being substantially horizontal, a fluid switch mounted thereon with the line of fluid flow therein substantially parallel to said arc, the circuit through said switchbeing normally closed, an armature connected with said member and an electromagnetin operative relation to said armature, said electromagnet being in series with said switch, the movement of said vibratory member produced by energization of said electromagnet moving the envelope of said switch relatively to the fluid in said switch whereby the circuit through said switch is interrupted.

7. In a sign flasher the combination with a mercury switch comprising an outer container having an electrode arrangement and a body of mercury movable back and forth 1n said container and cooperable with the electrode arrangement for making and breaking an electric circuit and means for imparting a rapid back and forth endwise movement to said container to cause the mercury therein to make and break the electriccircuit due to its tendency to persist in its state of rest.

8. In combination, a mercury switch and means for moving said switch shuttle-fashion at a speed such that the inertia of the mercury will cause it to remain relatively stationary with respect to the envelope and electrodes of theswitch.

9. In combination, a mercury switch having an envelope, electrodes and mercury for bridging said electrodes therein, and means for moving said envelope and electrodes relatively to said mercury at a speed such that the inertia of the mercury w1ll cause it to remain comparatively stationary with respect to said envelope and electrodes in effecting the make and break operations of said switch.

10. In switch mechanism of the periodic type, in combination, an oscillatable member, a ,fluid switch mounted on said member with the line of fluid flow therein substantially 

